Menu
Worthington

Low lighting no longer an issue at Atrium Hi-Rise apartments

February 2020

By Joel Haskard
Southwest, MN

The Atrium Hi-Rise is  a seven story building located in Worthington with 104 one-bedroom apartments. Owned and managed by the Worthington Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), tenants typically pay rent in the amount of 30% of adjusted gross income monthly.

By installing LEDs in the parking lot, this CERTs-supported project helped enhance tenant safety as well as create cost savings for the HRA with reduced electric bills, a win-win for the tenants and the public housing organization. We interviewed Randy Thompson with the HRA to learn more.

This project has made a difference with much-improved lighting in the parking lot and walking area in front of the Atrium Hi-Rise for tenant safety, as well reducing energy costs for the HRA.

Randy Thompson, Executive Director Worthington Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Can you tell us about the lighting improvements?

Randy Thompson: The Atrium Hi-Rise is located on a busy corridor near downtown Worthington. When passing the Atrium after dark, the improved lighting now speaks for itself. Beyond providing a more open and inviting look to the front of the building, it sends a message that as an agency we care about our facilities and grounds with upkeep and upgrades to more modern technology.

You mentioned that this increased safety and energy efficiency at the Atrium. Can you say more about that?

Randy Thompson: The safety objective was met with additional lighting added to the parking lot. The improved lighting is also beneficial to police staff and ambulance staff when coming to the building after dark, because the front and side driveway areas are now very well lit. The energy efficiencies came by changing older, inefficient lighting to LED. We're saving over 11,000 kWh annually, which is more than the average home uses in a year. And we also saved almost $2,000 with a utility rebate for the efficient lights.

Any tips for others taking on similar projects? 

Randy Thompson: First, talk with your local utility to make sure you are maximizing rebate opportunities for energy saving bulbs and fixtures. Also, make sure the contractor you are using is a qualified electrician who can conduct a lighting study of the grounds to determine that the correct amounts and size of lighting are used.

  • Technology: Lighting upgrades 
  • Southwest CERT Seed Grant: $3,800
  • Total Project Cost: $13,150
  • Other Funds: Utility rebates, HRA budget
  • Project Team: Randy Thomspon and Jay Jenson, Worthington HRA; Monte Walker, Walker Electric (electrician); Echo Electric (materials); Worthington Public Utilities (rebates)
  • People Involved and Reached: 212
  • Annual Energy Savings: 11,760 kWh
piggie

Could your community benefit from a CERTs Seed Grant?

Learn more

Related Tools & Guides

How We Can Help

Cities & Counties

CERTs is here to help you understand your options, connect with your peers, and move forward.

Find Energy Efficient Lights

We encourage reuse and republishing of this story. All Clean Energy Resource Teams stories are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution license, meaning you can share and adapt the work as long as you give us credit. We'd also love it if you link back to the original piece. Have questions or want to chat? Drop us a line.